I know everyone is different in regards to recovery. I do have a question and would like to hear from you.

My surgery is scheduled for February 16th which is a Wednesday, my question is...

Is it reasonable to think I can return to work the following Monday?

I'm what they call a Road Warrior", I generally travel to someplace in the US on Monday's returning home on Friday's. I'm fortunate right now to be able to work from my home office for the next couple of months. I will be doing phone support for our Franchisees and a lot of email, nothing strenuous. I do have fexibility as to how long I work at a time.

Information I've read indicates you can return to work within a week and other information says 4 to 6 weeks. What was your experience with this?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Patti

I too have the flexibility to work at home and I took the first week off. i worked Monday, surgery on Tuesday and took the rest of the week off. I started yesterday (Monday) working at home. I had to take some breaks, but otherwise have not had problems. I'm 7 days post op and feel fairly good. I was not one of the lucky ones that had a day or two of pain then nothing, I still have a little pain, but it gets better daily. i would NOT want to be in the car all day even now. i go back to work in the office next week Tuesday (Monday I get my staples removed, yay!)

Good luck!

I could have gone back in a week without any problem.

My doc was great and gave me "as long as I wanted". I took 5 weeks off. It was a great paid vacation.

I'm similar to you, but I travel throughout the state everyday to different appointments.

I had my surgery Monday. Was planning on working from home and going back on Friday.

It's day 2 for me and I do fell better all the time. Went out and ran some errands today, felt strong.

But I do get very fatigued by 4 pm. And totally wiped out by 7pm.

I think I am going to stay home this Friday as well and make a full week of it.

I am on day 8 still get tired really easy. If your working from home I don't see a problem. My doctor wont let me go back for a month or maybe longer. But I am a critical care nurse. I can't run to codes and do chest compressions and pull on patients right now so I too am enjoying some paid time off..

I have an office job and I had my surgery on a Friday and could've probably went back to work within a week of the surgery. At the time when I had my surgery, I was on a leave from work to take care of a family member. Had I been working, I probably would've taken a week off, but I can honestly say that by Monday/Tuesday after my surgery I was feeling good enough that I could've returned to work.

i was banded on a Thursday and I too am a road warrior. I was on a plane on Monday as I had no time off available. I did ok but would have preferred to wait a few more days. I brought instant soup with me so I could get through security as well as have something to eat

I had my surgery on a Monday, and took two weeks off. If I had it to do over, I would have taken three or four weeks. Although I felt good, it was tough going back to work and still eating mushies. I'm a teacher so my breaks are built into my schedule and I can't eat when I need to. I also can't eat in front of students. My doctor has me eating 2 oz. every 2 hrs. which is impossible with my teaching schedule. This week I'm on soft food and it's easier to pack a lunch, but I still can't get in the 2 oz. every 2 hrs. Most other teachers take off a month, but I thought it was excessive and went back after two. I wish I had stayed home longer. Not because I didn't feel up to it, but because of the food issue.

I felt good on day three, was taking my Jack Russell for walks. Was driving on day 4. Two weeks out and been at work for 4 days, (work for TJMaxx). Tired when I come home. Just remember your protein, you should be fine

Yea after 4 of 5 days I felt fine... the only thing is you are on liquids for a week or two, you might not have as much energy

Patti -

Provided your surgery goes smoothly with no complications, it possible. I had surgery on the 25th of January (a Tuesday) and returned to work that Friday. I work at the DMV, where I am on my feet literally all day long. I was a little tired after my shift, went home and rested and was back at the grind on Monday. Good luck in with your surgery, I am sure you will do great:)!

Stacey

I am having my surgey on the 15th.I work as nurse and planning to take 2 weeks off.I wounder if I can use my STD?Just a thought.

I took 8 days off but feel great 4 days post op. I'm enjoying the extra sleep and think u should be fine to return in a week if u plan out ur food. I'm a counselor though, so I sit a lot and talk/play games and cook with my clients.

I had surgery on Thursday and was working half days by the following Tuesday, up to full speed by the following Friday. I did NOT have an easy time of it after surgery and was pretty much in constant pain and comatose the first two days following surgery, and still VERY tired a full week later. Although a lot of people seem to have an easier time of it, you have no way of knowing how you will respond. I'm 40 yrs old, healthy, strong, and was totally surprised by how hard this surgery knocked me on my ass. Just make sure you have a back-up plan and give yourself an out if you need a few more days, or a few half days. And it's definitely a good thing you're not traveling the following week!

I am having my surgey on the 15th.I work as nurse and planning to take 2 weeks off.I wounder if I can use my STD?Just a thought.

Hi,

I am also a nurse, have sleep apnea, HTN, and had a huge hiatal hernia. Most people did not think that I qualified for Lap Band, but I did. Just turned 48 and I do have trouble with pain when I wake up from any surgery. Wanted to some background. I work at home as a case manager traveling on the road at times. I defintely needed the 2 weeks off. By the day 18, I felt like I never had surgery. It took a while for me. Like I said, this is the way I responded to surgeries in the past. Alot of other people recovery quickly, so I guess you have to gauge it on your own past experience. I would highly recommended at least 2-3 weeks off. You need to heal, and then start to get your routine down in terms of eating. It feels so good to destress. As nurses, we really need time off not just physically, but mentally. In terns of STD, contact your HR department. There may be a waiting period for length of time that you need to be out to collect. Just a note from the physician will do. They do not need to know the medical condition. That is confidential. I've learned to keep things to myself, as others have used it against me. Then, it just provokes anger.